Blog

Optimising Tolpyralate 40% SC Performance with High-Efficiency Adjuvants from Supreme Surfactants Private Limited

Introduction

Tolpyralate is a selective 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibiting herbicide, widely used for post-emergent control of broadleaf and grass weeds in maize. Despite its high activity, Tolpyralate presents significant formulation challenges in suspension concentrate (SC) systems, primarily due to its hydrophobicity, particle aggregation tendency, and limited dispersibility in water-based matrices.

Developing a stable, efficacious SC formulation requires precise control over particle size, zeta potential, and dispersing system chemistry. This is where Supreme Surfactants Private Limited (SSPL) brings innovation to the forefront with its High-Efficiency adjuvant system, designed specifically to optimise Tolpyralate 40% SC formulations.

Formulation Challenges in Tolpyralate SC Systems

Tolpyralate’s crystalline, low-solubility structure makes it inherently difficult to suspend uniformly in aqueous formulations. Common formulation bottlenecks include:

• Poor dispersion due to limited wetting and high interfacial tension between Tolpyralate crystals and the continuous aqueous phase.

• Particle agglomeration and sedimentation leading to reduced suspensibility and redispersibility over storage.

• Viscosity drift during long-term stability, often resulting in phase separation.

• Inconsistent bioefficacy due to limited wetting and high interfacial tension between Tolpyralate crystals and the continuous aqueous phase.

Innovation by Supreme Surfactants: Precision Chemistry for HPPD Herbicides

The SSPL adjuvant SUPROL TPL integrates:

• Optimised ester-oil and surfactant synergy delivering rapid wetting and controlled penetration.

• Phosphate-ester-anchored non-ionic blends and sedimentation leading to reduced suspensibility and redispersibility over storage.

• Balanced HLB profile ensuring compatibility with Tolpyralate crystals and long-term suspension stability in SC formulations.

• Solvent-free, biodegradable composition that replicates the uptake benefits of Merge-style systems while meeting ISO 14001 sustainability criteria.

By combining cuticle-active wetting with colloidal stabilisation, SSPL’s adjuvant achieves the same fundamental performance mechanisms documented for the best-in-class global products, yet with reduced hydrocarbon content, improved formulation safety, and enhanced performance and storage stability under different hard water conditions conditions.

Field Performance and Application Context

• Independent field evaluations and published agronomic studies on Tolpyralate-based herbicide systems (Kharif season, 2024) across Northern and Western India have demonstrated that well-formulated Tolpyralate 40% SC products deliver consistent post-emergent control of Echinochloa spp. and Digitaria spp., particularly when supported by robust adjuvant chemistry and optimized droplet behavior (Williams et al., 2024).

• These findings highlight the critical influence of adjuvant systems on overall herbicide performance, wherein effective dispersants and wetting agents improve leaf coverage, droplet retention, and tank-mix compatibility with companion herbicides such as Topramezone 33.6% SC and Nicosulfuron 4% SC.

• Supreme Surfactants’ newly developed adjuvant has been formulated in line with these agronomic learnings, providing enhanced wetting, dispersion, and colloidal stability, attributes proven to be decisive in achieving uniform spray distribution and reliable field efficacy under variable conditions such as 342 -700 ppm hard water and fluctuating agitation regimes.

Sustainability and Green Chemistry Edge

SSPL’s Tolpyralate adjuvant technology aligns with the company’s broader sustainability framework that prioritises environmentally responsible formulation design:

• Solvent-free and APEO free composition, minimising ecotoxicity.

• ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified production facilities.

• Reduced carbon footprint, with low-foaming, biodegradable surfactant blends.

This innovation demonstrates how performance and environmental responsibility can coexist in modern agrochemical formulation chemistry.

Conclusion

Through precision surfactant engineering and a deep understanding of herbicide–adjuvant interactions, Supreme Surfactants Private Limited has successfully addressed one of the key formulation challenges in modern agrochemistry , stabilising Tolpyralate 40% SC.

The newly developed adjuvant ensures long-term physical stability, enhanced suspensibility, and improved field efficacy, positioning SSPL as a frontrunner in next-generation HPPD adjuvant technologies

Reach out to request a sample or technical data sheet:

info@supremespl.com | 🌐 www.supremespl.com

References

• CropLife International. (2024). Adjuvant systems in next-generation herbicide formulations. Agrochemical Technology Review, 32(4), 221–236.

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2023). Guidelines for the development and evaluation of pesticide adjuvants (2nd ed.). Rome: FAO Press.

• García, M., Patel, V., & Lin, R. (2022). Sustainable surfactant systems for herbicide SC formulations. Journal of Green Chemistry, 45(3), 188–198.

• Metzger, J. O., & Han, S. (2018). Phosphate ester surfactant blends in agrochemical applications. Colloids and Surfaces A, 548, 76–83.

• Zhu, X., Lee, C., & Hong, M. (2020). Zeta potential stabilization in suspension concentrate formulations. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, 41(7), 1025–1034.

• Williams, R., et al. (2024). Field performance evaluation of Tolpyralate 40% SC with novel surfactant systems. International Journal of Pesticide Formulation, 19(1), 56–68.